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Peter Fitzgerald, Canberra Times | April 22, 2009 - 10:36AM
If confidence is any guide, rookie ACT Brumbies flyhalf Matt Toomua will have no problem replacing Christian Lealiifano at pivot in Wellington on Saturday, should coach Andy Friend opt for him.
Toomua and Gene Fairbanks are vying for the vacant Brumbies' No.10 jersey for the round 11 Super 14 match against the Hurricanes on Anzac Day.
Friend remained unsure yesterday who he would name at flyhalf to cover for Lealiifano, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
The crucial selection will largely depend on the fitness of winger Alfi Mafi.
Should Mafi fail to recover from a groin injury that kept him out of last weekend's 32-31 win over the Pretoria Bulls, Toomua would likely be named at flyhalf with Fairbanks at inside centre, Tyrone Smith at outside centre and Stirling Mortlock on a wing.
But if Mafi is cleared to play, he would join Francis Fainifo on the wings, meaning Mortlock could move to 13, Smith to 12 and Fairbanks to 10.
Toomua accepted his possible selection was dependant on another player's fitness but backed himself to succeed if he got the call-up from his coach.
"If I'm picked, I'm ready, I know I am, I'll be confident out there," he said.
"I've had a few runs at 10 during the games [this season] and obviously at training we're filling in all the time so it will be a simple transition for me.
"You want to be starting, you want to be playing 10, so I'm not going to hide that.
"I want to be picked but if I'm not, Friendy is doing what is best for the team and I back him."
Fairbanks, too, is ready to wear the No.10 jersey for the first time this season should Friend ask him to.
The 26-year-old is a specialist inside centre but spent time playing at flyhalf earlier in his career.
He admitted he preferred the role of inside centre but wouldn't hesitate to move in to pivot if required.
"I'd be happy to do it and I'd be confident with Matty at 10 as well," Fairbanks said.
"I haven't played there for a few years ... and to organise the forwards as well as work on your own game is tough.
"We need to have control this weekend. The teams that have beaten the Hurricanes this year have played with great control and I pride myself on controlling things."
Friend hoped to have a strong gauge today on the availability of Mafi, fullback Mark Gerrard and Ben Hand for Saturday's clash. Should Hand, who completed most of the Brumbies training session yesterday, fail a fitness test Scott Fardy, who plays for Warringah in the Sydney club competition, is on standby if required.
The Brumbies have a training-free day today and Friend will name his team Thursday.
http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...079706682.html
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Interesting match up this weekend between two young talented flyhalfs Brumbies matt Toomua and Hurricanes Willie Ripia
Matt Toomua (pron: too-moo-ah) is the second CA Brumbies player to be contracted directly from school, following in the footsteps of Julian Salvi who was originally signed for the 2004 season. The 17 year old is a gifted goal-kicking flyhalf who heads to Canberra as a potential long-term playmaking prospect for the two-time Super Rugby Champions. Toomua is a product of Queensland's Brisbane State High School, an institution that produced former CA Brumbies and Wallabies winger Mark Bartholomeusz, as well as Wallaby greats Paul Carozza, Peter Slattery and David Wislon and current Reds players Charlie Fetoai, Brett Gillespie, Brando Vaalu and Peter Hynes. In July Toomua won his second Australian Schools Championship, guiding Queensland I to a come-from-behind 23-17 win over NSW I in Canberra. His performance during the tournament earned him the pivot's role for the Australian Schoolboys where he helped guide the side to wins over the England Under 18's (11-3), Samoan Schools (50-9) and a 23-17 win over New Zealand Schools in Sydney, the side's first win over their trans-Tasman rivals since 1997.
Born in Melbourne, Toomua moved to Brisbane where he played his junior football with Logan City before attending Brisbane State High School. In 2006 he guided the Queensland II side to their maiden Australian National Schools Championship title, scoring all of his side's points in their 14-13 final win over NSW II in Sydney. Competing against the likes of older flyhalves Kurtley Beale (NSW) and Queensland's Quade Cooper, Toomua was selected in the Australia A side that defeated the Tongan Under 18's, 22-18. Two months later, he captained Queensland Red to the finals of the National Under 16 Championship in Sydney.